Vernier mechanism



Oct- 6, 1942 F. M. CARROLL VERNIEE MECHANISM Filed May 3, 1941 FIGB.

FIGB,

INVENTOR www ATTORNEY rimas-oa 6,1942

ma nca-mn. Binghamton, N. Y., mmm- Bnsinelllaehines Ato International Corporation. New Yer-LN. yY., a annotation ofk New York Applicationhhy 3, 1941, Serial No. v391,731

2 Claims. (Cl. 'I4-302) This invention relates to vernier mechanisms wherein two axially aligned shafts are rotated at different rates of speed .when a third independently rotatable member, making contact with each of the shafts through a ball clutch and a cooperative disk mounted on each shaft, is actuated.

In particular, this invention relates to vernier mechanisms used in commotion with the platens of various printing devices where line spacing is accomplished by rotation of the platen, and where line spacing adjustments less than the normal line space movement are required.

Vernier mechanisms are well known in the art. and many different types of friction contact and tooth contact combinations have been used. One of the most elective of the latter class is that employing a satellite gear or gears meshed with a common gear and a ring gear having unequal numbers of teeth. This type of vernier movement is positive, accurate, but expensive. Geared type verniers, by their nature, must be precision made throughout, and unless the gears are accurately cut, back-lash may occur.

An object, accordingly, of this invention is to provide a simple, low cost vernier mechanism, coactlve between two axially aligned shafts, which which vernier movement is obtained by a combination of differential action between unequally beveled halves of an outer ball race forming member and the balls, and the balls transmission of such action to unequally beveled halves of an inner ball race forming member through further differential action.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claimsand Y illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which 4 disclose. by way of example, the principle of the is free from back-lash, and which is positive and accurate without the use of gears.

A further object of this invention is to provide a vernier mechanism which can be mounted at the common ends of two axially related shafts one within the other so as to regulate motion between them. i

A still further object of this invention is to provide a verniermechanism coactive between two axially aligned shafts in which the amount of vernier movement can be regulated by a simple beveling operation performed upon one or more of the active members connected to such shafts.

Another object is to provide a small, compact vernier mechanism of the friction type in which vernier movement is obtained by differential action between unequally beveled Vhalves of an outer ball race forming member and the balls contacting it, and the transmission of such action through the balls to equally beveled halves of an inner ball raceforming member.

Another object of this invention is to provide a small, compact vernier mechanism of the friction type in which vernier movement is obtained by uniform action between'the equally beveled halves of an outer ball race forming member, and the bans contacting. it, and the transmisla, and the mgm ns1: 2| of the outer bau race forming member.

Fig. 5 illustrates another method for obtainingV invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation view of the vernier mechanism showing cut away portions of the various component parts.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, and shows the assembled relationship between the component p arts for a better understanding of the working principleof the mech# anism.

Fig. 3 illustrates one method for obtaining .vernier movement by differential action of the unequally beveled halves of an outer ball race forming member.

Fig. 4 illustrates another method for obtaining vernier movement by the differential reaction of the unequally beveled halves of an inner ball race pressed onto the shaft II and the right half I5 of the inner ball race member is pressed onto a hub I6 which is pinned to shaft I3 by pin I1. Contacting and partially supported by the members Il and I5 are a number of balls I8 evenly distributed about the inner race members by the balisage I9.

The left half 20 of an louter ball racev member rests against the balls I! on one side of the cage member rests against the other side. These two halves 28 and 2I are separated by the ring 22 and clamped together by the race shell 23 so that the balls I8 contact members I4, I5, 20 and 2| with some pressure. The members I4 and I5 on the inside and 28 and 2| on the outside of the balls I8 form the limits of a ball race. The ball bearings 24 form bearing contacts between the inner and outer race members as well as acting as spacers. A circular plate 25 having ratchet teeth cut into its periphery is fastened to the member 2I of the outer race member to rotate the entire outer race member (20 and 2|) when pawl driven or when manually rotated by the Vernier knob 26 connected to it.

At the points of contact with the balls I8, all of the members I4, I5, 28 and 2I are beveled.

If the contacting portions of both members 2l!v and 2I are equally beveled, the balls I8 would be contacted at points on a line t-t parallel to the axis of rotation of the members 20 and 2 I, C-C (see Fig. 4). Similarly, if the contacting portions of both members I4' and I5 are equally beveled, the balls I8 would be contacted at points in a line S-S parallel to the axis of rotation of the members I4 and I5, C-C (see Fig. 3). If both of these conditions are satisfied and the outer race members 20 and 2l are rotated while one of the inner race members I4 or I5, is held fixed, no rotation of the free member of the inner race members I4 or I5, would occur, since the balls I8, impelled by frictional contact and rotation from the outer race members, would roll uniformly on both of the inner race members.

However, if the bevel of angularity of one half of the outer race member was greater than that of the other half a new condition would exist.

'Fig 3 shows such an instance where the left outer race member 20 has less angularity than the right outer race member 2|. The ball I8 would now be` contacted by these outer race members at points on the line t-t. The ball I8 would tend to rotate about an axis r-r parallel 'to the line t-t when the outer race was turned. The halves I4 and I5 of the inner race member having the same angularity Iof bevel, and contacting the ball at points b and b' on the line S-S, would be urged to rotate about their common axis C-C, with equal radii of contact R. and R' with the ball I8. However, the effective radius of rotation ab for the left inner race member I4 would be less than the effective radius a'b for the right inner race member I5, so that for a given number of rotations of the ball I8 the race member I4 would be rotated less than the race member I5, and therefore if one half of this inner race member were held fixed, the other half would be displaced with respect to it. A proportionate amount of vernier movement would be obtained foreach angular increment of rotation of the outer race member.

v Let radii of left inner race member I4 and right outer race member I5, respecting their points of contact with ball I8, be equal, and let their circumferences each be 42 inches. Let circumference of ball I8 at radius ab, acting on race I4, be 2 inches, and let circumference of ball I8 at radius a'b, acting on race I5, be 2.1 inches. Let the circumference of the outer race (composed of the halves 28 and 2I of the outer race member) be such that 36 revolutions of ball I8 occur during 1 complete revolution of the outer race.v During 36 revolutions of ball I8 the left inner member I4 would rotate 510 degrees while nected to the sleeved shaft II.

the right inner member I5 would rotate 52,0 de- 75 2,297,744 Y l j grecs. Therefore, member I4 would be turned I through 10 degrees more than member I5 during one complete revolution of the outer race, and relative motion would occur between the members I4 and I5 such that for one degree 4rotation of the outer race (20 and 2I) the members I4 and I5 would be displaced 1% minutes. Consequently if either member I4 or member I5 is held stationary Vernier motion is obtained by the rotation of the other one.

When the angularities of.bevel of the halves 20 and 2I of the outer race member are the same and the bevel angularity of the left inner member I4 is less than that of the right inner member I5 or vice versa (see Fig. 4), a condition similar to that explained above exists. In this instance the ball I8 contacts the outer race at points on the line t-t and rotates on the axis r-r parallel to the axis of the inner race CC. The left inner member I4 contacts the ball I8 at b with a radius of R' while the right inner member I5 contacts the ball I8 at b with a radius of R. Since R is greater than R', and ab is greater and ab, the eiect of relative motion between the halves I4 and I5 is still further emphasized.

Fig. 5 shows a method wherein the conditions related with Fig. 3 and those conditions related with Fig. 4 are combined to further heighten the effect of relative motion between the halves I4 and I5 of the inner ball race member. The Vernier movement secured by this modification is the least critical of the three methods described in that a very slight difference in bevel angularity between halves of the outer ball race member when combined with the effect of a very slight difference in bevel angularity between halves of the inner ball race member produces very great deviations in relative motion of the two halves of the inner member. dimensions of the members composing the inner ball race and the outer ball race can be materially reduced when employing this method.

Reference Fig. 2 a suggested application of this device may be that of adjusting the printing line of a given printing machine to a platen con- Normally the shaft I3 drives shaft II through frictional contact via shaft I3, pin Il, hub I6, right inner ball race member I5, balls I8, left inner ball race member I4, sleeved shaft II, with predetermined increments of line spacing. Should smaller increments of line spacing be required a pawl may engage the teeth of the circular plate 25 thereby transmitting rotation to the outer race (composed chiefly of the left outer race member 28 and right outer race member 2 I) Vernier movement is thereby transmitted to shaft I I via balls I8 through the left inner member I4 since the right inner member I5 is held from rotating by the line space ratchet detent operating on the .shaft I3. Manual Vernier adjustment is made the invention as applied to three modifications it will be understood that various'omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is The physical the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vernier mechanism for adjusting relative position between two axially aligned shafts comprising two disks with unequally beveled facing portions, each desk being supported on the end of one of the said shafts. two cup shaped members surrounding the said disks, the inner edges of the said cup shaped members being .beveled with unequal angularlty, a plurality of balls mounted in the race formed by the outer periphery of the said disks and the inner periphery of the said cup shaped members and contacting the said beveled portions, means for securing the said cup shaped members together for unitary movement and for supplying pressure to the contacting balls, and means connected to the said cup shaped members for rotating the latter to cause relative rotation between the said disks and their related shafts through rolling contact of the said balls with the beveled portions of said cup shaped members and the beveled portions of the said disks when one .of the latter is held from rotating.

2. A mechanism comprising two spaced inner bearing members capable of being rotated, shafts axially aligned and connected at their ends to each of said members, two lspaced outer bearing members capable of being rotated about the said inner members. a plurality of balls bearing upon and between the said inner members and the said outer members and mutually supporting the said inner and outer members, the said outer members being joined for unitary movement and being unequally beveled at their points of contact with the said balls to rotate the latter on axes not parallel with the axis of the said inner lmembers when the said outer members are rotated, and the said inner members also being unequally beveled at their points of contact with the said balls to cause each of said inner members to contact the said balls with a different radius, the resulting rolling contact of the said balls upon the said inner members and their related shafts causing one of the latter to rotate when the other is braked.

FRED M. CARROLL. 

